Wild bear roaming near Budharaja temple in Odisha sparks panic among locals

A bear entered human habitation in search of food and caused panic among locals after it was spotted near Budharaja Temple at Ambapani in Koksara block of Kalahandi on Monday night.

Bear Roams Near Temple Premises

As per local accounts, the bear was seen roaming near the temple, sometimes running up to the road and at other times entering the temple premises. The animal reportedly came from Sahajkhol forest yesterday and roamed in the area before returning to the forest.

As per reports, this was not the first time a bear had entered the temple premises. The Budharaja Temple, located at the end of NH-26 in Bhawanipatna, attracts many travellers who offer bananas and coconuts. Being close to the jungle, the temple provides easy access for the bear to find food.

Tea stall owners, who stay open throughout the night, spotted the bear and recorded videos of it roaming near the temple. The footage went viral on Tuesday morning, leaving locals terrified and fearing a possible attack.

Forest Officials Respond

Following the incident, Forest Department officials visited the spot to track the animal. They said the bear had gone deep into the forest after eating and assured that there was no immediate danger of it straying into human settlements.